This is topic Star Wars moving to IMAX? in forum Large Format Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 07-04-2002, 02:43 AM:
This from theforce.net
quote:
IMAX Clones Coming Soon
Mon, Jul 01, 02 12:59:39 AM EDT
Agis tells us that AOTC will screen on IMAX in Australia soon!ATOC : IMAX Special Full Screen Release confirmed in AU
Well it was confirmed today that Fox did have that ace we were waiting for and the word is IMAX.
With 15 countries signed up for the Special Full Screen Release of ATOC, things are heating up once again for SW, according to fox in AU
With Australia's IMAX season begining September Holidays (maybe earlier: fox hasn't ruled that out), other countries will be opening this special release as early as end of July. Japan, South Korea has secured a mid-august release, as well as Hong Kong and China. USA is still estimating around a Labor Day weekend opening, with London's Massive IMAX Theatre , will start showing end of July, 1st week of August, with Germany, France and Spain.
News has not been confirmed regarding a special release, with additional scenes, but fox have assured us, it will be quoted "worth the wait"
However some countries IMAX theatres will not be showing the film in digital, however fox has stated that they will try to make the best possible prints of the film for IMAX release, whether filming in digital or standard IMAX modules.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, that super high resolution video should look absolutely magnificent on an IMAX screen!!! 
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-04-2002, 03:24 AM:
How will they fit that onto an IMAX platter? Also, isn't it illegal to show anything remotely entertaining at an IMAX? I thought it had to be documentary stuff and really short (45 mins MAX) subjects and also non-fiction. IMAX != real movies.
Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 07-04-2002, 03:57 AM:
And what are they going to do about the incompatible aspect ratios? Or can things like that be fixed in the computer....rearranging everything into a square instead of a rectangle -- according to Mr. Lucas, ANYTHING can be done now with CGI. Or maybe we will get to see it in letterbox -- now THAT should just tickle him pink -- so much like DVD will it be, yeass. But gee, then it won't really IMAX will it? Just like AOTC wasn't really in focus, was it? 
Frank
Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 07-04-2002, 04:31 AM:
Just like AOTC wasn't really in focus, was it? Depends, the live action was slightly out from the digital.
I focused on the digital (esp the 6 armed chef) then bought it back slightly.
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 07-04-2002, 06:57 AM:
Isn't Lucas the guy who thinks that DLP projection of shot-on-video material should be good enough quality for everyone? Isn't he the guy who didn't have 5/70 prints made of his last two films?
Posted by James B. Openshaw (Member # 1310) on 07-04-2002, 08:10 AM:
Correction, IMAX = REAL MOVIES thanks the IMAX Digital Re-mastering (or DMR).
IF AOTC does open in IMAX, and the theaters don't have big enough platters, all they have to do is order an upgrade from IMAX. We did this with Beauty and the Beast and got an upgrade on our Kinoton QTRU to accommodate larger length films.Hope this answers some of your questions!
Posted by Michael Barry (Member # 237) on 07-04-2002, 10:18 AM:
Joe Redifer said:
--------------------------
'How will they fit that onto an IMAX platter? Also, isn't it illegal to show anything remotely entertaining at an IMAX? I thought it had to be documentary stuff and really short (45 mins MAX) subjects and also non-fiction. IMAX != real movies.'
--------------------------You are absolutely correct: it is illegal to show anything remotely entertaining at an IMAX. However, this isn't a problem: they are showing 'Attack of the Clones'. (Sorry!) 
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-04-2002, 10:23 AM:
It would run easliy in any 3D Imax thatre where you can run feature length Imax films and do a normal changeover.
Mark @ GTS
Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 07-04-2002, 10:37 AM:
MarkYou can only run changeovers on the IMAX SR twin projector 3D setup like the ones here in Sunny Bradford. Trying to run changeovers on the twin rotor GT system would cause a few painful problems!
BTW as our organisation is also responsible for running both the London IMAX theatres I can say we do not have an IMAX print of Ep 2 booked in to either of them.
Fox in London are also very confused by this story.
Posted by Barry Hans (Member # 477) on 07-04-2002, 10:42 AM:
Mark, the SR systems may be able to do it but it's a little more problematic with the GT setup ( both left/ right eyes running through the projector at the same time ). Running time could be an issue.
Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 07-04-2002, 12:27 PM:
Lucas...? -Who is that ? Can he be some Film Tech lurker without photo. Would Mr Redifer please fix a photo, so we are not in doubt who to hit, if we meet him.
Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 07-04-2002, 12:34 PM:
I had a lot of fun watching AOTC the first time, and the unfortunate experience of watching it a second time. Since it was filmed in 16x9 ratio to begin with, and cropped, then there is a lot more image to work with for an Imax release.
I did see the film first on a large format projection, and it was atrocious. The film actually looked better on a larger screen when I took a look see at the Villa, on thier 93 foot screen, so it must have just been the optics.
I think that they have had a lot of time to really play with the digital masters to make them look better, so who knows. I know I will go see it, and hope to hell that any additional scenes make the story better, and maybe even can make hayden cristensen look like he can act.
Dave
Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 07-04-2002, 02:33 PM:
AOTC in IMAX? Are they on dope?It should be fun seeing pixels the size of window panes.
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-04-2002, 03:21 PM:
Dick,
You're right! When I think Imax 3D I think SR projectors as thats all there is around here......at least till next month when another 3D 15/70 system emerges near Salt Lake City.
Mark
Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 07-04-2002, 05:54 PM:
Perhaps they confused July 1st with April 1st?--jhawk
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 07-04-2002, 05:56 PM:
Hey Mark, what might that system be?
>>> Phil
Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 07-04-2002, 06:37 PM:
Does this mean that CLONES will beat APOLLO 13 to IMAX?My guess is...if they have any sense at all...they would at least re-render the CGI stuff for the higher resolution. The live-action is pretty much locked in, I'm afraid.
As for the time limit of IMAX...Let's just forget about CLONES and go back to the forthcoming APOLLO 13 re-issue...does anybody know if the IMAX version is the full-length feature or an edited version?
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 07-04-2002, 06:47 PM:
Actually the pixels would be about 1/2 inch wide if shown on a typical 80 ft wide screen at the native 1920x1080 24p format. More likely, since that projector does not exist at this time (other than multiple projectors), it would be converted to and shown at the 1280 format with the pixels about 3/4 inch wide. Either would provide a great image.The aspec ratio remains a problem however.
>>> Phil
Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 07-05-2002, 03:07 AM:
>> Just like AOTC wasn't really in focus, was it? I found that on our DLP projector in Waterloo, Ontario, SWEP2 seemed to exhibit far fewer focusing problems than the film version. Unlike the film copies all the live action seemed to stay in focus. Weird.
SWEP2 film version crappy, SWEP2 DLP a little better, any other movie on film a lot better than both.
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 07-05-2002, 10:39 AM:
Yeah, Mark, what system? The only SLC opening I know of is the IMAX-SR3D at the renamed Clark Planetarium in late November.